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Comparison of agricultural soils' structure depending on tillage system using X-ray microtomography
Beckers, Eléonore; Ly, Sarann; Léonard, Angélique et al.
2010In Geophysical Research Abstracts, 12, p. 2010-12722
Peer reviewed
 

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Keywords :
soil tillage; microtomography; hydraulic conductivity
Abstract :
[en] This study aims at characterizing agricultural soils’ structure depending on the tillage system: conventional tillage or conservational tillage. Tillage reduction is an increasing practice, but the micro-structural effects on soils and on their hydrodynamic parameters are still not well described. Recent research shows non-converging results. Our point is to highlight fundamental differences in structure through characterization of soils porosity’s parameters using X-ray microtomography measurements coupled to image analysis. This attempt is in line with a more integrated experiment of which the aim is to quantify the effects of tillage intensity on lateral flow production, and finally on global water balance. Parameters’ measurements consist in a combined approach, based on two different space-time scales of exploration: fundamental scale, with soil sampling campaign for microtomography analysis, and field scale, with continuous flow measurements (plots’ dimensions: 18*28 m). For their part, parameters for water balance determination (precipitation, evapotranspiration…) are monitored on the field. All of these measurements have the main objective of hydrological modeling enhancement by taking into account a better lateral flow description. Discussion in this paper will focus on the first results obtained by X-ray microtomography measurements. Our experiment takes place in Gentinnes (Walloon Brabant, Belgium), on a field organized in a split-plot scheme. Since 2004, plots have been cultivated in conventional tillage or in reduced tillage. The latter consists in sowing after stubble ploughing of about 10cm. The crop rotation is sugar beet followed by winter wheat. The soil is mainly composed of silt loam. Soils samples, with a 3 cm diameter and a 5 cm height, were removed from the upper layer (Ap horizon) for both management practices. Samples are scanned by X-ray microtomography using a Skyscan-1172 high-resolution desk-top micro-CT system (Skyscan, Kontich, Belgium). The cone beam source operated at 100 kV, using an aluminium filter. The detector configuration, i.e. 1048×2000 pixels 16-bit X-ray camera, and the distance source-object-camera were adjusted to produce images with a pixel size of 17 µm. This resolution allows us to visualize both meso- and macro- porosity. In this study, half the samples were placed under a 15000 kPa pressure (corresponding pressure for the wilting point) in Richards’ apparatus in order to empty the meso- and macro-porosity. To determine a priori the class of porosity for the samples, relations between water retention and pressure head can be plotted using this apparatus. Scanning results consist in 2D images. The 2D images are recombined to form 3D structure. Then the pore network can be analyzed through useful factors like size distribution, shape, connectivity, orientation, tortuosity etc.
Disciplines :
Chemical engineering
Agriculture & agronomy
Author, co-author :
Beckers, Eléonore ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Ly, Sarann ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech > Hydrologie et Hydraulique agricole > doctorat
Léonard, Angélique  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie appliquée > Génie chimique - Procédés et développement durable
Degre, Aurore  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech
Language :
English
Title :
Comparison of agricultural soils' structure depending on tillage system using X-ray microtomography
Publication date :
May 2010
Event name :
European Geosciences Union General assembly
Event organizer :
European Geosciences Union
Event place :
Vienne, Austria
Event date :
02-07 mai 2010
Audience :
International
Journal title :
Geophysical Research Abstracts
ISSN :
1029-7006
eISSN :
1607-7962
Publisher :
European Geophysical Society, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
Special issue title :
EGU General Assembly 2010
Volume :
12
Pages :
EGU2010-12722
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Available on ORBi :
since 02 April 2010

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